Gas meter



G; W. SMITH ET AL GAS METER;

Filed March '10. 1924 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l INVENTORS 6e07- aliflllflmlfilfl and frir/rDal/M BY Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED: STATES PATENT ()TFFIGET:

Gas METER.

i sue-lees filed March 1 0, 1924.

This invention relates to gas meters and the like and particularly to means for preventing the accidental derangement of the operative members of suchdevices.

An object ot the invention is to provide driving connections for measuring and, recording devices in which pivotal )arts which may be disconnected during ac justing or testing are automatically locked in place upon being restored to operative position, thus avoiding the danger of subsequent accidental derangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid meter having means whereby the operative'parts may be readily placed in pivotal relation and in which the parts are automatically locked in such relation.

Another object of the invention is to provides fluid meter in which operative parts are pivoted together through the instrumentality of a stud, and automaticallyoperated means are associated with the stud to prevent accidental discontinuance of the pivotal relation of the parts. a I p A further objectof the invention is to provide a gas meter in which pivotal" elements that may be easily disconnected during adjusting or testing are secured together means of a stud carried by one member and an aperture in another member, the stud being provided with; a spring pressed catch which automatically operates upon insertion ofthe stud through theaperture, to prevent accidental rupture: of the pivotal relation between the members.

) A still further object of the invention is to provide measuring and recording device in which operative elements arepivoted throughthe instruinentality of a stud, and a spring pressed barb is so associated with the stud that it does not interfere with assembling the parts pivotal relation but is automatically operative topre'vesnt acciden tal discontinuanceof the pivotal relation.

well known type of gas meter is constructe'd with anup per and lower'section, the lower section comprising two compartments each containing bellowsirieans or the equ v l nt Wh sk r d sp aced by the a tqbe measured; andlthe; upper section compris g main chamber and a v lve" cheme'e Mechanic lly f bbie eii' w th .th tiv bellows members or equivalent voll i mmhst ring means, is a s1; pf vertical shafts which are oscillated upon "movement of the leaks. I ters to be sealedupon the completion oftest- Serial No; 6981007.

bellows members and which are connected by means of link members to a crank shaft to effect itsrotation in response to the move-1 ment of the bellows members. By means of connecting links motion from the crank shaft is communicated to a pair of slide valves to control the flow of gas to the volume measuring devices. M

During the adjustment and testing of a meter of the foregoingtype, it frequently becomes necessary to disturb; the pivoted relation between the crankshaft and the links which communicate motion to it, from the pair of vertical shafts and to disturb the pivotal relation between the two connecting links and the slide valves. Upon completion of test or adjustment, it not infrequently happens that the tester or repairman neglects to insert cotter pins which are ordijnarily used to prevent of the pivotal relation at the three p ointsjust mentioned, in which case it isquite probable that during subsequent handling or tiians portation of themeter the pivotal relation at these points will be destroyed; I

In case the pivotal connection between the links associatedwith the pairof vertical shafts andthe crank shaft is brokenit will be impossible for movement to betrans nitted to the valvesin response to displacement of thepiston members or other yolun'ie'measuring device'e'inployed, and hence it will be impossibl for themeter tOPQ SS This condition will not be apparentuntil after the meter has beenjinstalled and an, attempt is made to clear the line of air and test for Since it is the usual practice for me ing the repair shop, installer willbe unable to correct the difliculty and hence it will be necessaryito remove' the ureter and t i i 't e Shop,- a a i i In casathe pivotal relation between a connecting link and aj valve is destroyed, tlih valve will become displaced thus allowing a o pa s, 'el ly efi 't l t q i Q jilflet Without passing tlirouglh the' volume measuring means," and hence theinietei will ot recor the e munifi an v lpes e- T slvill c u e. a satlv es'ult'inrt tfp leaep n' he. en piping-1, s n a l: m te win use use.-

.fl. a M ,nlo tr ubl the me er unt li hep ei da evh flii he meter is read and it indicates? no consumpa' ccidental rupture culties of the known prior art mit disconnection of and 13.

tion of gas. This not only results in a loss to the supplier for the gas consumed but necessitates the expense of replacing the meter and repairing the one previously installed.

The present invention overcomes the diffib providing a meter in which the pivotal relation between parts that may be disconnected during adjusting or testing is effected through the instrumentalit-y of a hollow stud carried by one member and cooperating with the aperture of another member. Projecting from the hollow stud near its free end is a spring pressed'barb like member positioned so as not to interfere with the insertion of the stud through the aperture of an operating member, but which automatica ly prevents disconnection of the members unless the barb is intentionally withdrawn into the hollow stud. On the free end of the stud there is provided a push button which upon actuation cooperates with: the barb to withdrawjthe barb into the stud and perthe pivoted members. By meansof this construction the members become automatically locked in pivotal relation as soon as such relation is established and hence it is impossible for the pivotal relation to be subsequently destroyed accidentally through failure to install cotter pins or equivalent retaining means. However, should it be desired to disconnect the pivoted elements thelocking means is quickly made inoperative by pressing the push button.

Referring to the drawings which show the invention applied to a well known type of gas meter, Figure 1 is a plan view showing the upper section of a gas meter and having a portion of the valve chamber wall cut away to disclosethe valves;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of 1, showing the upper section of the. meter shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional. view showing the construction of the tangent bat of the meter, which comprises a pivoting stud and locking means in accordance with the present invention.

The upper section of the gas meter comprises a valve chamber 1 and a main chamber 2 into which project vertical shafts 3 and 4 through stuffing glands 3 and 4. Rigidly affixed to shafts 3 and 4 are arms 5 and6 coupled with links 7 and 8 respectively. Each of which are pivoted to element 9 known as a tangent hat. The tangent bat-is mounted on arm 10 eccentric of crank. shaft 11, the degree of eccentricity being variableby adjustment of the Slide valves 14 and 15 of well knownconstruction are connected by means of connecting links 1'? and 18 to the crank shaft 11. The oscillatory movement of the shafts 3 and 4 is transmitted to the crank shaft 11 in the form of rotary motion which results in reciprocation of the valves 14 and 15 to control the flow of gas. A worm 22 carried by crank shaft 11 meshes with worm gear 23 thus transmitting rotary 1110131011 to shaft 24 of revolution counter 25 which is calibrated to record the amount of gas passed in terms of volumetric units.

Refeming to Figure 3 which shows the tangent bat 9 detached from the rest of the apparatus, a hollow stud is enlarged at its lower end and spun or pressed around the edges of base member 51, slotted member 52 and spring member 53. Spring member 53 is formed from a flat piece of spring metal and has an upstruck prong 54 engaging the surface 55 of a barb carrying element 56 as shown. The nose or barb 57 projects as shown through a slot in the upper end of the hollow stud 50 and the lower end of element 56 is provided with a toe 58 which is laterally supported by the walls of the slot 5*.) in the member 52. The spring prong 54 tends to rotate the barb carrying member 56 in a counterclockwise direction, thus normally retaining it in the position shown. Slidably positioned in the upper end of the hollow stud 50 is a push button 60 shaped as shown and retained in place by means of the inspun or crimped edge 61 of the stud 50 which overlies the enarged portion of the push button. The tangent bat 9 is mounted in place upon arm 10 by means of the apertured members 63 which is positioned be- 100 tween nuts 12 and 13 (Figure and which may be made integral with base 51 or suitably secured thereto as by brazing or welding.

it is the barb carrying member 56 within the hollow stud 50 that a lever having a thickness equal to or less than the distance between the nose or barb 57 and the point 64 on the stud and having an aperture of proper 110 size, may be readily positioned on the stud to pivot it to the member carrying the stud. Due to the barb like shape of the nose 57 the'member 56 will readily rotate in a clock wise. direction and allow the lever to be 115 placed in position; and as soon as it is p0- sitioned spring prong 54 will turn the barb to the position shown in the drawing, thus automatically locking the lever in place. Should it be desired this can readily be done by pressing the button 60 which through the engagement of the upper end of the slot in the wall of the button with the slopping portion of the nose 5'7 will rotate the barb carrying 56 in a clockwisedirection thus withdrawing the barb 57 within the stud permitting the removal of the lever. j

' Thevalve wrists 14 and 15' by means of which pivotalrelation is established be; 130

apparent from the arrangement of to remove the lever member 12 .ent disclosure be considered tween the valves ing links 17 and of the valve as by welding or brazing.

It is apparent from the foregoing disclosure that applicant has provided a fluid meter or the like in which there are automatically operated means to retain pivotal relations which may be established during adjusting and testing and hence there will be no diiiiculty due to accidental termination of such relations through failure of the workman to install cotter pins or like re taining devices.

We realize that the present invention may be embodied in constructions other than that disclosed and hence we desire that the presas illustrative and not in thelimiting sense.

Having thus described our invention what 'we claim is l. A fluid meter comprising; a link; a movable member; a stud pivoting said link to said member; and means automatically operative upon positioning said link in pivotal relation to said member, to prevent accidental termination of the pivotal relation.

2. A fluid meter comprising; a link; a movable member; a stud pivoting said link to said member; and a spring pressed latch carried by one of said members and operative upon positioning said link in. pivotal relation to said member, to prevent accidental termination of the pivotal relation.

3. A fluid meter comprising; a member; a stud afliXed to said member; an apertured lever adapted to be pivoted to said memher with said stud passing through said aperture: and automatically operative means associated with said stud to prevent accidental withdrawal of said stud from said aperture. 1

4. A fluid meter comprising, the combination of a valve mechanism, means for operating said valve mechanism to permit the flow of gas through said meter, a plurality of links connecting said valve operating means to said valve mechanism, and means associated with said valve mechanism for fastening certain of said links in operating position, said means being automatically operative to fasten said links when said links are placed in operating position.

A gas meter comprising a tangent arm, a pivot stud mounted on said arm, a pair of driving links pivoted to said stud, and a spring pressed latch associated with said stud and operative to retain said driving links in pivotal relationship with said stud, said latch being inoperative to interferewith establishment of the pivotal relationship and automatically operative upon establishment of the pivotal relationshipto prevent accidental displacement of the driving links.

' GEORGE WVALLACE SMITH.

PATRICK DAVIS. 

